Jay Pharoah is bringing his stand-up act to DC Improv this week for six shows over four nights. The return to D.C., he said, feels a bit like a homecoming for the Chesapeake, Virginia, native.
“It’s definitely a home show because I mean, it’s DMV, you feel me,” Pharoah said.
Pharoah told WTOP contributor Joe Yasharoff he has been performing in D.C. since he was 19 years old, recalling that Charlie Murphy was among the first comedians to bring him to the city.
While he’ll sprinkle in a few D.C.-specific references into his act, Pharoah said the material is designed to connect with audiences everywhere.
And he believes comedians have an important role to play at a time when many people are dealing with stress and uncertainty.
“I think it is our jobs as comedians to make people forget about their problems, or forget about the problems, or just laugh about their problems so they can forget about the pain,” he said.
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Pharoah is also known for his impressions of celebrities, athletes and politicians, including President Donald Trump, former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Eddie Murphy, Charlie Murphy, Jamie Foxx and Katt Williams.
His impression of JAŸ-Z has earned a unique seal of approval from the rapper himself.
“JAŸ-Z loves the impression,” Pharoah said. “He calls me fake JAŸ-Z every time he sees me.”
Pharoah will perform six shows Sept. 10-13 at DC Improv.
And if you’re planning to sit up front, he offers some fair warning.
“If you don’t want me to get into your browser history, you shouldn’t sit in the front,” Pharoah said.
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